Method for arc welding fault detection

ABSTRACT

A method for sensing and controlling the weld quality of gas metal arc welding employs sampling of the welding current and voltage signals and making determinations of the weld quality state based on information embedded in those signals. The signals are processed such that the quality of the weld can be determined and the appropriate steps are taken to respond to the detected quality level. If the quality level is deemed unacceptable the process is terminated and the operator is alerted. The method includes determinations based on the standard deviation of the electrical signal, the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal, and/or the average absolute value of the time derivative of the electrical signal.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/263,328 filed on Jun. 21, 1994.

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to fault detection strategies for determining the quality of an arc welding process in real time.

2. Background Art

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is an arc welding process in which an electrical arc is established between a continuously fed consumable electrode and the base metal to be welded. In GMAW, energy from the arc is used to melt the base metal and the electrode. Droplets form on the tip of the molten electrode and are transferred across the arc. An inert or slightly reactive shielding gas is provided in the arc region to reduce the reaction of the base metal, molten electrode, and arc due to contamination by the atmosphere. A constant potential power source is used to hold the arc voltage constant for a given electrode feed rate via an internal feedback control. Disturbances in the arc region such as shielding gas contamination, weld pool interference, and excessive melt-through can be detected in the current and voltage signals as the power source compensates for these events.

Prior arc welding strategies have sensed variations in the current signal or voltage signal in order to track the weld seam, adjust the fill volume, or detect shielding gas contamination in pulse welding. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,825 issued on Jun. 22, 1993 to Siewert et al. in which electrical signals are sampled to determine shielding gas quality, the occurrence of short circuits and frequency thereof, pulse frequency and standard deviation thereof, contact tube wear and trends in the sampled electrical signals.

Still, there is always a need for improved arc welding fault detection strategies. Preferably, such strategies should resolve the quality state of the weld based on the characteristics of the welding current and voltage signals. Also, such strategies should resolve one or more quality states of the weld using real time processing so that the weld operator can be immediately alerted to a poor weld and/or the weld process can be immediately terminated. Further, such strategies should be capable of being practically implemented at a speed sufficient to avoid producing defective welds due to the formation of porosity, excessive convexity, and/or excessive melt-through.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining in real time the quality of a weld during a weld process is disclosed, the weld process including a power source, a weld electrode and a base plate defining an electrical circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit;

determining the standard deviation of the electrical signal for a predetermined time period;

comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a first predetermined limit and assigning a first value to an array variable if the first predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal and assigning a second value to the array variable if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the first predetermined limit;

updating an array with the array variable;

summing values in the array so as to obtain a quality parameter; and

comparing the quality parameter with a second predetermined limit and terminating the weld process if the quality parameter exceeds the second predetermined limit and continuing the weld process if the second predetermined limit exceeds the quality parameter.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining in real time the quality of a weld during a weld process is disclosed, the weld process including a power source, a weld electrode and a base plate defining an electrical circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit;

determining the standard deviation of the electrical signal for a predetermined time period;

comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a first predetermined limit;

assigning a first value to an array variable if the first predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal;

comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a second predetermined limit if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the first predetermined limit;

assigning a second value to the array variable if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the second predetermined limit;

determining a power spectrum of the electrical signal for a predetermined range if the second predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal;

summing the power spectrum of the electrical signal over the predetermined range;

comparing the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal to a third predetermined limit;

assigning a third value to the array variable if the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal exceeds the third predetermined limit;

assigning a fourth value to the array variable if the third predetermined limit exceeds the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal;

updating an array with the array variable;

summing values in the array so as to obtain quality parameter; and

comparing the quality parameter with a fourth predetermined limit and terminating the weld process if the quality parameter exceeds the fourth predetermined limit and continuing the weld process if the fourth predetermined limit exceeds the quality parameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a data acquisition circuit in which voltage and current are sensed for a weld process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing a first algorithm in which the standard deviation of the sensed voltage and/or current is used for determining weld quality of the weld process of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart describing a second alternate algorithm in which the standard deviation as well as the frequency domain of the sensed voltage and/or current is used for determining weld quality of the weld process of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing a third alternate algorithm in which the average absolute derivative of the sensed voltage and/or current is used for determining weld quality of the weld process of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart describing a fourth alternate algorithm in which the standard deviation as well as the frequency domain of the sensed voltage and/or current is used for determining weld quality of the weld process of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart describing an algorithm used to reassign values to variables A_(O) to A_(L) of array (A) at step 156 of FIG. 5.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional arc welding circuit 20 is shown including a commercially available welding power source 22, a weld gun 24 and a base plate 26. Conventional voltage and current sensors in the form of leads 28,30 and a torrid core 32, respectively, detect variations in the current and voltage signals across the weld gun 24 as the power source 22 compensates for disturbances in the arc region such as shielding gas contamination, weld pool interference, and excessive melt-through. Other sensors known in the art are also contemplated for use with circuit 20 to detect variations in the current and voltage and include, but are not limited to, Hall-effect transducers and precision current shunts.

In the specific preferred embodiment, a data acquisition computer 34 is used to sample the welding voltage and current signals and to analyze the data according to the particular algorithm employed, discussed hereinafter in greater detail. Computer 34 is equipped with a data acquisition board that has at least two analog inputs and two digital outputs. The signals are digitized by the data acquisition card and put into the computer memory. The quality state of the weld is determined based on processed current and voltage signals.

Computer 34 is a conventional personal computer capable of operating at a clock speed of 66 MHz. The sampling rate of circuit 20 is dependent on the speed of computer 34 and, for the specific preferred embodiment, is 2048 Hz in order to receive the full band width of information available from the current and voltage sensors. Because of the speed of the data acquisition computer 34 and the resulting rates at which the information is processed and, also, the algorithms employed to detect the quality state of the weld, circuit 20 is capable of detecting a process fault before the level of defective welds becomes significant. For example, some of the defects that are directly controllable are weld discontinuity due to shielding gas contamination and/or loss, excessive melt-through, and excessive convexity. When any of these conditions are detected, the operator is alerted and/or the process is terminated.

The above-described sampling rates permit a decision regarding the quality state of the weld to be made at least one time per second. Although a decision rate of 1 Hz is adequate for the specific preferred embodiment in which heavy sections are welded, the same approach can be applied on thin section weld assemblies by increasing the sampling rate and further reducing the time between control decisions. As a result and regardless of the particular weld section geometry, the present invention appraises the operator of the quality state of the weld and/or terminates the weld based on the real-time weld condition.

In general, disturbances in the arc region 36 cause instabilities in the current and voltage signals that can readily be sensed and detected by the data acquisition system. For example, when the shielding gas is contaminated the surface energies of the molten drop on the end of the electrode can change. These changes cause the drop to grow larger than it normally would under normal shielding atmosphere conditions. The larger drop changes the arc length which, in turn, has an effect on the resistance of the system. This causes instabilities in the current and voltage signals as the drops repeatedly form, grow, and detach in an irregular manner. These instabilities can be detected in the time domain current data under most conditions.

However, under welding conditions that call for relatively high voltages and therefore longer arcs, these instabilities are not readily resolvable in the time domain data. In these cases the signals are better resolved in the frequency domain. Further, testing has shown that most of the instabilities can be measured in the frequencies below 250 Hz.

As a result, the present invention contemplates several techniques for detecting the quality state of the weld. One method is to determine the weld quality as the standard deviation of either the current signal or the voltage signal according to the following steps:

(a) sample the electric signals from the welding process;

(b) calculate a quality parameter over a predetermined time period based on the standard deviation of the above electric signals;

(c) compare the quality parameter to a predetermined lower threshold limit;

(d) map the quality state into an acceptable range if the quality parameter is below the lower threshold limit;

(e) compare the quality parameter to a predetermined upper threshold limit;

(f) map the quality state into a potentially poor range if the quality parameter is above the lower threshold limit but below the upper threshold limit;

(g) alert the operator;

(h) map the quality state into a poor range if the quality parameter is above the upper threshold limit; and

(i) alert the operator and terminate the welding process.

As such, this method permits classification of the welding quality into three states. Further, this method responds very quickly to perturbations in the welding process. If the weld quality state is such that a poor weld may be produced, the operator is alerted; however, the weld is permitted to proceed. If the quality state is deemed poor, the weld is terminated before an excessive amount of poor quality weld is produced.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a subroutine 40 is shown for determining weld quality in the time domain. At step 42, computer 34 collects current or voltage data for a predetermined sample period, in the specific preferred embodiment preferably 0.5 seconds. Program execution advances to step 44 to determine the standard deviation of the data collected at step 42 using conventional techniques. At step 46, the standard deviation of the collected data is compared to a predetermined or threshold value `T₁ `. If the standard deviation of the collected data is below T₁, the weld quality is good and program execution returns to step 42. If the standard deviation of the collected data is greater than or equal to T₁, program execution advances to step 48.

At step 48, the standard deviation of the collected data is compared to a predetermined or upper value `T₂ `. If the standard deviation of the collected data is greater than T₂, the weld quality is defective and program execution advances to step 50, at which point the operator is alerted, and to step 52 to terminate the weld process. If at step 48 the standard deviation of the collected data is less than or equal to T₂, the weld quality is possibly poor and program execution advances to step 54, at which point the operator is alerted, and returns to step 42 without terminating the weld process.

As a result, subroutine 40 takes advantage of very simple computations that tend to be very fast when executed on a computer to quickly determine the quality state of the weld so that process control decisions are made at a fast rate, typically greater than one per second. The values of T₁ and T₂ vary with the type of data acquisition system and welding configuration and the type of shielding gas used. It has been found, however, that a value of T₁ below the range of about 30 to about 45 is indicative of a good weld for most data acquisition systems and welding configurations. In the specific preferred embodiment shown, T₁ is approximately 30. A value of T₂ above the range of about 40 to about 50, conversely, is indicative of a defective weld for most data acquisition systems. In the specific preferred embodiment shown, T₂ is approximately 45.

Another method is to determine the weld quality both in the time domain (standard deviation) and frequency domain (fast fourier transform). This method quantifies those welds that were identified as being possibly poor according to the following steps:

(a) sample the electric signals from the welding process;

(b) calculate a quality parameter over a predetermined time period based on the standard deviation of the above electric signals;

(c) compare the quality parameter to a predetermined lower threshold limit;

(d) map the quality state into an acceptable range if the quality parameter is below the lower threshold limit;

(e) compare the quality parameter to a predetermined upper threshold limit;

(f) map the quality state into a poor range if is the quality parameter is above the predetermined upper threshold limit;

(g) alert the operator and terminate the welding process if the quality state of the weld is mapped into a poor range;

(h) map the quality state into a potentially poor range if the quality parameter is above the lower threshold limit but below the upper threshold limit;

(i) calculate the power spectrum of the signals collected in (a) over a predetermined range;

(j) calculate a second quality parameter based on the integral of the power spectrum calculated over the predetermined range;

(k) compare the second quality parameter to a second predetermined threshold limit;

(l) map the quality state into a poor range if the second quality parameter is above a second predetermined upper threshold limit; and

(m) alert the operator and terminate the welding process if the quality state of the weld is mapped into a poor range.

This method permits classification of the welding quality into two states. Although not necessarily as fast as the first method, this method better resolves perturbations in the welding process.

If the quality state is deemed poor, the weld is terminated before an excessive amount of poor quality weld is produced.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a subroutine 80 is shown for determining weld quality in both the time domain and frequency domain. Similar to subroutine 40, subroutine 80 first calculates the standard deviation of the collected data. At step 82, computer 34 collects current or voltage data for a predetermined sample period, in the specific preferred embodiment preferably 0.5 seconds. Program execution advances to step 84 to determine the standard deviation of the data collected at step 82 using conventional techniques. At step 86, the standard deviation of the collected data is compared to a predetermined or threshold value `T1`. If the standard deviation of the collected data is below T₁, the weld quality is good and program execution returns to step 82. If the standard deviation of the collected data is greater than or equal to T₁, program execution advances to step 88.

At step 88, the standard deviation of the collected data is compared to a predetermined or upper value `T₂ `. If the standard deviation of the collected data is greater than T₂, the weld quality is defective and program execution advances to step 90, at which point the operator is alerted, and to step 92 to terminate the weld process. If at step 88 the standard deviation of the collected data is less than or equal to T₂, the weld quality is possibly poor and program execution advances to step 94. At step 94, the frequency domain of the collected data is calculated using a fast fourier transform. The frequency domain data is then summed from zero to a predetermined frequency at step 96. In the specific preferred embodiment, the predetermined frequency is 200 Hz since most of the data indicative of a defective weld occurs below this frequency.

Program execution advances to step 98 to compare the summation of the frequency domain data to a predetermined or threshold value `T₃ `. If the summed frequency domain data is less than T₃, the weld quality is good and program execution returns to step 82. If the summed frequency domain data is greater than or equal to T₃, the weld quality is defective and program execution advances to step 99 to alert the operator and to step 92 to terminate the weld process.

As a result, subroutine 80 takes advantage of both the time domain and frequency domain techniques to determine weld quality. Although the additional calculations take more processing time, the resulting computations nevertheless permit process control decisions to be made at a rate of one per second. Similar to subroutine 40, the values of T₁, T₂ and T₃ vary with the type of data acquisition system and welding configuration and the amount of shielding used. A value of T₁ below the range of about 30 to about 45 is indicative of a good weld for most data acquisition systems and welding configurations. In the specific preferred embodiment shown, Ti is approximately 30. A value of T₂ above the range of about 40 to about 50, conversely, is indicative of a defective weld for most data acquisition systems. In the specific preferred embodiment shown, T₂ is approximately 45.

The threshold value for T₃ is dependent on the sampling rate used to calculate the data. The number of samples in the frequency domain data is established by the time domain sampling rate. For example, a summed frequency domain data less than about 400 to about 800 (400<T₃ <800) and, particularly, less than about 500 (T₃ =500) is indicative of a good weld for a data acquisition system in which the sampling rate is 2048 Hz and which results in 1024 samples.

Another method is to determine the weld quality as the average absolute derivative of either the welding signals. Referring now to FIG. 4, a subroutine 100 is shown which in application is usable to determine weld quality either alone, or in combination with subroutine 40. For example in the specific preferred embodiment, rather than advancing to step 54 in subroutine 40, program execution alternately advances to subroutine 100 and, if the weld quality is good, returns from subroutine 100.

In subroutine 100, program execution begins at step 104 to sample and collect data for a predetermined period of time, in the specific preferred embodiment sufficiently short to enable a weld quality decision rate of one per second. Program execution advances to step 106 to determine the derivative or rate of change of the collected data. Program execution advances to step 108 to determine the absolute values of the derivative data, and at step 110, the absolute values of the derivative data are averaged to determine an average absolute derivative value.

At step 112, the average absolute derivative value is compared to a predetermined or limit current value `T₄ `. If the average absolute derivative value is less than or equal to T₄, the weld quality is good and program execution returns at step 114 to either step 104 or subroutine 40 depending on the application. If the average absolute derivative current value is greater than T₄, program execution advances to step 118 to terminate the weld process and to step 120 to return to step 104 or subroutine 40 depending on the application.

In addition to using simple computations that tend to be very fast when executed on a computer, subroutine 100 can be performed with subroutine 40 using analog circuitry, thus eliminating the need for a computer. The threshold value for T₄ is dependent on the electrical signal sampled. For example, if current is sampled, the threshold value for T₄ at a sampling rate of 8 Hz is in the range from about 20 amps/sec to about 50 amps/sec and, particularly, is about 35 amps/sec.

Other features and advantages are contemplated by the present invention in addition to GMAW include the application of the above-described strategies to flux core arc welding and submerged arc welding.

Still other advantages contemplated by the present invention include closed loop control of the various weld processes. For example, as the current and voltage signals are processed, the control algorithm is contemplated to make a determination as to what the defect is and to respond accordingly. If a shielding gas contamination condition is detected, the computer can potentially direct the process to increase the amount of shielding gas flow. If this does not resolve the problem, the operator is alerted and the process is terminated.

If an excessive melt-through condition is detected, the control algorithm is contemplated to direct a robot to increase the electrical electrode extension or increase the travel rate and reduce the wire feed rate. If this does not resolve the problem, the operator is alerted and the process is terminated.

If an excessive convexity condition is detected, the control algorithm is contemplated to direct the welding process to increase the arc voltage. If this does not resolve the problem, the operator is alerted and the process is terminated.

Yet another method to determine the weld quality both in the time domain (standard deviation) and the frequency domain (fast fourier transform) is discussed with regard to FIGS. 5 and 6. This method includes the following steps:

(a) assign a length L+1 to an array (A) so that the array includes the variables A_(O) to A_(L) ;

(b) sample the electric signals from the welding process;

(c) calculate a first quality parameter π over a predetermined period of time based on the standard deviation of the electrical signals sampled in step (b);

(d) compare the first quality parameter π to a first predetermined threshold level t₁ ;

(e) assign a value of P₁ to a variable P if the first quality parameter a is less than or equal to the first predetermined threshold level t₁ ;

(f) compare the first quality parameter a to a second predetermined threshold level t₂ if the first quality parameter σ is greater than the first predetermined threshold level t₁ ;

(g) assign a value of P₄ to the variable P if the first quality parameter a is greater than the second predetermined threshold level t₂ ;

(h) calculate the power spectrum of the signals collected in step (b) over a predetermined range if the first quality parameter σ is less than or equal to the second predetermined threshold t₂ ;

(i) calculate a second quality parameter x based on the summation of the power spectrum calculated over the predetermined range;

(j) compare the second quality parameter x to a third predetermined threshold limit t₃ ;

(k) assign a value of P₃ to the variable P if the second quality parameter x is greater than the third predetermined threshold level t₃ ;

(l) assign a value of P₂ to the variable P if the second quality parameter x is less than or equal to the third predetermined threshold level t₃ ;

(m) reassign values to variables A₁ to A_(N) of the array (A) according to the formula AN(new)=A_(N-1) (old);

(n) assign the value of variable P to the variable A_(O) of the Array (A);

(o) sum of the variables A_(O) to A_(L) in the array (A) so as to arrive at a third quality parameter s;

(p) compare the third quality parameter s to a fourth predetermined threshold level t₄ ;

(q) map the quality state of the weld to an acceptable range if the third quality parameter s is less than or equal to the fourth predetermined threshold limit t₄ ;

(r) map the quality state of the weld to a poor range if the third quality parameter s is greater than the fourth predetermined threshold level t₄ ; and

(s) alert the operator and terminate the welding process if the quality state of the weld is mapped to the poor range.

This method permits classification of the welding quality into four states. While this method is not as fast as the first method, it allows the welding process to ignore spurious samples which occur during the welding process. Thus, when this method is used in the conventional arc welding circuit 20 of FIG. 1, the circuit 20 becomes a very robust system for detecting porosity during the welding process.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a subroutine 130 is shown for determining weld quality in both the time domain and the frequency domain. At step 132, subroutine 130 assigns a length L+1 to an array (A) so that the array includes variables A_(O) to A_(L). Then, at step 134, the computer 34 collects current or voltage data for a predetermined sample period. Preferably, the predetermined sample period is 0.5 seconds. Program execution then advances to step 136 to determine the standard deviation a of the data collected at step 134 using conventional techniques. At step 138, the standard deviation σ is then compared to a first predetermined threshold level t₁. If the standard deviation σ is less than or equal to the first predetermined threshold level t₁, then a value of P₁ is assigned to a variable P at step 140. If the standard deviation σ is greater than the first predetermined threshold level t₁, then the standard deviation σ is compared to a second predetermined threshold t₂ at step 142. If the standard deviation σ is greater than the second predetermined threshold level t₂, a value of P₄ is assigned to the variable P at step 144. If the standard deviation σ is less than or equal to the second predetermined threshold t₂, the frequency domain of the signals collected in step 134 is calculated in step 146 using a fast fourier transform. The frequency domain data is then summed at step 148 from a predetermined frequency i to a predetermined frequency H so as to arrive at a value x.

Program execution then advances to step 150 to determine if the value of variable x is greater than a third predetermined threshold level t₃. If the value of variable x is greater than the third predetermined threshold level t₃, a value of P₃ is assigned to the variable P at step 152. If the value of variable x is less than or equal to the third predetermined threshold level t₃, a value of P₂ is assigned to the variable P at step 154.

Program execution then advances to step 156 to reassign values to variables A_(O) to A_(L) of array (A) In particular, FIG. 6 shows another subroutine 159 which begins at step 160 where a variable N is set equal to one (1). Then, the variable A_(N) (new) is assigned a value equal to the value of A_(N-1) (old) at step 162. At step 164, the variable N is compared to the variable L. If the variable N is not equal to the variable L, then the variable N is assigned a value of N+1 at step 166. If the variable N is equal to the variable L, then the variable AO is assigned a value equal to the value of variable P at step 168. By way of steps 160 to 168, variables A₁ to A_(L) of array (A) are reassigned values according to the formula A_(N) (new)=A_(N-1) (old), and variable A_(O) is reassigned a value according to the formula A_(O) (new)=P.

Once the values of variables A_(O) to A_(L) of array (A) have been reassigned at step 156 (i.e. by subroutine 159), the variables A_(O) to A_(L) are summed at step 158 to arrive at the variable s. At step 170, the variable s is compared to a fourth predetermined threshold t₄. If the variable s is less than or equal to the fourth predetermined threshold limit t₄, the weld quality is acceptable and program execution returns to step 134. If the variable s is greater than the fourth predetermined threshold limit t₄, the weld quality is determined to be unacceptable and program execution advances to step 172 at which point the operator is alerted , and then to step 174 where the welding process is terminated.

The value of the variables t₁, t₂, t₃, t₄, P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, L, H and i may vary with the type of data acquisition system and welding configuration and the type of shielding gas used. In one preferred embodiment in which the welding process uses a shielding gas mixture of 90% Argon/10% CO₂, the value of the above variables are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                VARIABLE                                                                               VALUE                                                           ______________________________________                                                t1      15                                                                     t2      35                                                                     t3      225                                                                    t4      260                                                                    P1      0                                                                      P2      2                                                                      P3      4                                                                      P4      5                                                                      L       80                                                                     H       200                                                                    i       10                                                              ______________________________________                                    

The following formula shows the relationship between certain of the variables:

    t.sub.4 =P.sub.4 ×L×B%,

where B%=Max % of bad weld before shut off. In this preferred embodiment, B%=0.65.

In another preferred embodiment in which the welding process uses a shielding gas mixture of 75% Argon / 25% CO₂, the value of the above variables are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                VARIABLE                                                                               VALUE                                                           ______________________________________                                                t1      17                                                                     t2      23                                                                     t3      550                                                                    t4      360                                                                    P1      0                                                                      P2      2                                                                      P3      4                                                                      P4      5                                                                      L       80                                                                     H       200                                                                    i       1                                                               ______________________________________                                    

The following formula shows the relationship between certain of the variables:

    T.sub.4 =P.sub.4 ×L×B%,

where B%=Max % of bad weld before shut off. In this preferred embodiment, B%=0.90.

It should be noted that the selection of the values for P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, H and i are not dependent on the type of shielding gas mixture used in the welding process. For example, the variable i is dependent on the type of pattern applied by the welding torch on surface to be welded. In particular, a low frequency component is induced in the electric signal samples obtained in step 134 when a weave pattern is applied by the welding torch on the surface to be welded. This low frequency component is undesirable. In order to effectively filter out this low frequency component from the electrical signal samples obtained in step 134, a relatively high value (i.e. 10) is used for the variable i in the formula shown in step 148. Accordingly, any changes in the electrical signal samples obtained in step 134 is due to differences in the quality of the weld and not due to the weave pattern applied by the welding torch. In contrast, when no weave pattern is applied by the welding torch on the surface to be welded, no low frequency component is induced in the electrical signal samples obtained in step 134. Accordingly, a relatively low value (i.e. 1) is used for the variable i in the formula shown in step 148 when no weave pattern is applied by the weld torch. 

We claim:
 1. A method for determining in real time the quality of a weld during a weld process, the weld process including a power source, a weld electrode and a base plate defining an electrical circuit, the method comprising the steps of:sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit; determining the standard deviation of the electrical signal for a predetermined time period; comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a first predetermined limit and assigning a first value to an array variable if the first predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal and assigning a second value to the array variable if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the first predetermined limit; updating an array with the array variable; summing values in the array so as to obtain a quality parameter; and comparing the quality parameter with a second predetermined limit and terminating the weld process if the quality parameter exceeds the second predetermined limit and continuing the weld process if the second predetermined limit exceeds the quality parameter.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second value is greater than the first value.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning a second value to the array variable includes the steps of:comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a third predetermined limit if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the first predetermined limit; assigning a first secondary value to the array variable if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the third predetermined limit; determining a power spectrum of the electrical signal for a predetermined range if the third predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal; summing the power spectrum of the electrical signal over the predetermined range; comparing the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal to a fourth predetermined limit; assigning a second secondary value to the array variable if the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal exceeds the fourth predetermined limit; and assigning a third secondary value to the array variable if the fourth predetermined limit exceeds the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein:the first secondary value is greater than the second secondary value, the second secondary value is greater than the third secondary value, and the third secondary value is greater than the first value.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of updating an array with the array variable includes the steps of:setting A_(N) (new)=A_(N-1) (old) for N=1 through N=L; and setting N_(O) (new)=the array variable.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit, the electrical signal is sampled at approximately 2 KHz.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit, the electrical signal is sampled for a predetermined period not exceeding 0.5 seconds.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the weld process is a gas metal arc welding.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the weld process is submerged arc welding.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the weld process is flux core welding.
 11. A method for determining in real time the quality of a weld during a weld process, the weld process including a power source, a weld electrode and a base plate defining an electrical circuit, the method comprising the steps of:sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit; determining the standard deviation of the electrical signal for a predetermined time period; comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a first predetermined limit; assigning a first value to an array variable if the first predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal; comparing the standard deviation of the electrical signal to a second predetermined limit if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the first predetermined limit; assigning a second value to the array variable if the standard deviation of the electrical signal exceeds the second predetermined limit; determining a power spectrum of the electrical signal for a predetermined range if the second predetermined limit exceeds the standard deviation of the electrical signal; summing the power spectrum of the electrical signal over the predetermined range; comparing the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal to a third predetermined limit; assigning a third value to the array variable if the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal exceeds the third predetermined limit; assigning a fourth value to the array variable if the third predetermined limit exceeds the summed power spectrum of the electrical signal; updating an array with the array variable; summing values in the array so as to obtain a quality parameter; and comparing the quality parameter with a fourth predetermined limit and terminating the weld process if the quality parameter exceeds the fourth predetermined limit and continuing the weld process if the fourth predetermined limit exceeds the quality parameter.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the second value is greater than the third value, the third value is greater than the fourth value, and the fourth value is greater than the first value.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of updating an array with the array variable includes the step of;setting A_(N) (new)=A_(N-1) (old) for N=1 through N=L; and setting N_(O) (new)=the array variable
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein in the step of sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit, the electrical signal is sampled at approximately 2 KHz.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein in the step of sampling an electrical signal from the electrical circuit, the electrical signal is sampled for a predetermined period not exceeding 0.5 seconds.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the weld process is a gas metal arc welding.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the weld process is submerged arc welding.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the weld process is flux core welding. 